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Storm Fall To Mystics 62-59

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 6: Crystal Langhorne #1 of the Washington Mystics drives to the basket against Tina Thompson #7 of the Seattle Storm at the Verizon Center on July 6, 2012 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2013 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)(Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)

WASHINGTON – The Storm came back from an 18-point deficit and with multiple chances to tie it at the buzzer, fell short 62-59 to the Washington Mystics Saturday night at the Verizon Center.

Shekinna Stricklen led all scorers with 20 points, a new career high for the second-year player. Tina Thompson added 11 points and four rebounds. Alysha Clark used back-to-back three’s to cap a Storm 15-0 run late in the game to end with eight points. Temeka Johnson dished out a season-high 10 assists.

For the second time in as many games, Seattle ended the first quarter down 21-7. Seattle played the Mystics even in the second quarter; both teams scored 14 to give Washington a 35-21 lead at the break. Seattle used a 12-0 run to end the third quarter but was never able to tie or take the lead down the stretch, pulling as close as one multiple times.

Washington was led by Crystal Langhorne’s 12 points. Ivory Latta chipped in with 11 points.

With the win, Mystics head coach Mike Thibault became the winningest coach in WNBA history with 212 victories. He passed Vin Chancellor’s 211 wins on June 30, 2013. Storm head coach Brian Agler remains the winningest coach in women’s professional basketball, combining 78 ABL wins with 160 WNBA wins for a total of 238.

Seattle continues its road trip with a Tuesday game in New York on July 9. The Storm returns home Sunday, July 14 to take on the Atlanta Dream.